Emporia City Commissioners are closer to considering a resolution to improve some city sidewalks, bike paths and sharrows as part of a Healthier Lyon County initiative.
Healthier Lyon County Grant Director Daphne Mertens told city commissioners that $100,000 was available for the project during Wednesday’s study session. The money is part of Healthier Lyon County’s $500,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways grant that was awarded in 2017. Mertens said city commissioners had turned over discussions on the initiative to the Multi-Use-Path Planning Board to identify possible locations where enhanced or added sidewalks would be the most beneficial to residents. The board determined sidewalk infrastructure was needed in front of Dillon’s, 902 E. 12th Ave., and at Good’s Cash Saver, 2703 West U.S. Highway 50.
“The sidewalk infrastructure there will allow residents to walk safely to Dillons and walk home from Dillons, as well as to allow some access for ESU students who live in the central part of town,” she said.
Good’s was identified during a healthy grocery store assessment as part of the grant, and at that time there was no public transportation delivering customers to that location to shop. The absence of sidewalks, bike lanes and sharrows was also identified as a challenge for the area.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)